Roses and Our Lady
Devotion to and love for Our Lady is central to who we are as Sister of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. Wanting to share this love and devotion to Our Lady, we had you in mind as we designed this rosary case. While it traditionally holds a rosary, you can also use it to hold some of your most precious treasures.
The image on the rosary case is one of Our Lady holding her most precious treasure, the Infant Jesus. Both Our Lady and Our Lord are holding a rosary, inviting each of us to prayer.
The case is also delicately surrounded by roses. But why roses? For this answer, we will have to take a closer look into Our Blessed Mother.
Father Peter Stravinskas, writing for the Catholic World Report, shares with us that the rose has come to have many meanings within different cultures and throughout Christian iconography. From “the fragility of beauty,” hints at death, to martyrs and “an eternal paradise” (paragraph 1.) Continued exploration shows us depictions of Mary with roses because it was believed that Mary was the “tender stem” from which Jesus has come forth. (paragraph 5.)
– https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2021/10/01/roses-the-rose-and-the-rosary/
Roses are recognized as a symbol of love. Depending on which color one chooses to give to another can hold even greater significance. While red roses are most commonly given to a significant other to express one’s love, friends may share a pink rose or yellow rose.
For Our Lady, how about a bouquet of:
Red Roses – for her great love, and ours for her
Light Pink Roses – for “happiness, gentleness, … and grace” and finally
White Roses – for purity
For more information on the symbolism of roses and their colors, see: htps://www.floraly.com.au/blogs/news/rose-symbolism-colours-and-meanings
We would like you to meet (if you haven’t already) –
Our Lady, Rosa Mystica – Mother of the Church*
For centuries, Mary has been referred to by the title “Rosa Mystica.” However, it was not until the 20th century that we have the titles Rosa Mystica and Mother of the Church together.
Image: https://www.catholiccompany.com/magazine/how-mary-became-known-as-rosa-mystica/
All of the following information and photo(s) on the alledged apparition is/are taken from
https://newdailycompass.com/en/rosa-mystica-church-authorises-italys-little-lourdes
1944
In 1944, it is said that Our Blessed Mother began appearing to Pierina Gilli, a nurse and consecrated woman. Our Lady referred to herself as “Rosa Mystica and Mother of the Mystical Body, the Church.”
1947
“After a long series of private messages, beginning in 1947, Rosa Mystica appeared to Pierina in a series of public apparitions at the cathedral of Montichiari (from November 16 to December 8). The Blessed Virgin appeared in white robes with three roses on her breast, whose meaning she explained to Pierina: they are the prayers, sacrifices and penances requested of the visionary and whoever believes in her appearance, in order to offer reparation for the wrongs committed by three specific categories of consecrated persons: those consecrated persons who betray their vocations, those who live in mortal sin, and those priests who betray Jesus, like Judas.”
1966
The second series of alleged apparitions is said to have occurred in 1966 (from April 17 to August 6.)
It is said that Our Blessed Mother blessed the spring where the diocesan Shrine now stands, and it has become “the source of innumerable graces. ‘My divine Son Jesus is all love. He sent me to make this fountain miraculous,’ Rosa Mystica said to Pierina, at the same time asking her to kiss the soil where the water sprang forth and to erect a crucifix there so that ‘the sick and all of my children, before drawing or drinking water, may ask pardon from my divine Son with a beautiful kiss of love.’ The Virgin also asked Pierina to take some mud near the spring and then to wash with the water from the spring, to show ‘that sin in the soul of children becomes mud, but when they wash with the water of grace, they become purified and worthy of graces.’”
The Process
“Although, it has taken a long time for the processes of recognition for the Shrine and the apparitions to be carried out by the official Church, devotion to Rosa Mystica immediately spread throughout the world. Largely due to the enormous proliferation of graces and the continual occurrence of supernatural phenomena. Various facts offer proof: in Lebanon, for example, icons of Rosa Mystica have been found exuding perfumed oil, in America there are statues that have wept tears and blood, and the same phenomenon has been verified in India, where bishops and cardinals saw honey exuding from an image of the Virgin, a sign of blessing, and so on.
The Miracles
“At least two religious congregations have been inspired by Rosa Mystica, which make reference to Brescia and have been recognized by their respective bishops, as well as a myriad of religious associations. While the conversions and healings, both physical and spiritual, are beyond count: the Shrine is full of ‘ex voto’ plaques expressing prayers of thanksgiving for graces received from all over the world.”
THE DEVOTION
“In conclusion, it is necessary to emphasize what Rosa Mystica asks of the faithful, both those who come to visit Fontanelle as well as those spread throughout the world. A few requests, but very specific:
- The worldwide union of reparatory Communion on the 13th of each month for all the outrages and offences against the Eucharistic Jesus.
- In addition, every 13th of the month, the date linked to the apparitions of Fatima, Rosa Mystica asks for: the confession of sins, participation in the Holy Mass, Communion, the recitation of the Rosary and an hour of Eucharistic Adoration.
- Finally that, each year at noon on December 8, the observance of the universal hour of grace: “With such a practice,” says Our Lady, “numerous spiritual and corporal graces will be obtained.” In addition to this, following the example of Pierina Gilli, the Blessed Mother invites the faithful to offer their life for the love of Christ and His Church.”
and then